Regular Camp Info

Summer's an adventure! Camp on!

Summer's An Adventure!

Join us for our 97th summer of excellence in safe adventures and new experiences where building confidence, inspiring independence and fostering a spirit of acceptance and family is top priority.

YMCA Camp Cosby is a weeklong sleepaway camp experience for boys and girls ages 6 to 16 providing safe adventures on 135 acres nestled in foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in east Alabama. With our first rate staff, activity variety, beautiful landscape and amazing views on the shores of Lake Logan Martin, Camp Cosby is the perfect camp atmosphere to over 2,000 campers each summer.

Points of Interest

• Air Conditioned Cabins and Dining Hall.

• All staff go through an in-depth screening process including face to face interviews, references and background checks.

• All staff attend an in-depth childcare and leadership training onsite before summer begins and are equipped to meet every Cosby camper’s needs.

• Camp leadership staff live onsite and are available to the staff and campers 24/7.

• Highly trained staff members focused excellence in safety, growth and allowing children the opportunity to discover their strengths through Camp Cosby’s exciting activities and individual choice.

• Diversity - Our staff come from all over the world and our own backyard. Many staff are former campers who know exactly what it is like to be a child in the cabin.

• During sleepaway camp Certified Health Care professionals live onsite and are available to staff and campers 24/7.

• All Cosby employees are certified in CPR, First Aid and AED.

• We are a Judeo-Christian organization promoting positive morals and the Y’s four core values.

Camp Cosby Villages

At YMCA Camp Cosby, we bunk campers with their same age group and gender. We call a group of cabins of similar age a Village. Campers participate in activities with their Village and all Villages have a Head Counselor who leads them in songs, cheers and much more fun. Learn more about each Village below.

Buckaroo Village (Rising 1st and 2nd grade, Ages 6 – 7)

This is an excellent introduction to Sleepaway Camp for our youngest campers. Buckaroos stay three nights or a whole week and fun filled, activity-packed days. Our youngest campers get a lot of extra attention and are led to activities as a village by their activity counselors and Head Counselor. Tubing, horseback rides, the pool and archery are just a sample of the programs your Buckaroo will experience.

Buckaroo Parents Beware! Many Buckaroos have so much fun with their counselors and new friends that they ask to stay until the end of the session. Should this happen, we will give you a phone call, requesting your permission (campers are told you must approve their request), and if you would like for them to stay, the balance of the full week tuition will be due at that time. There is no pressure given to any camper at any time to stay at Camp Cosby, this is a decision they make on their own after they are asked if they would like to stay. This is part of our programming to allow even our youngest campers a chance to make good choices based on their feelings and their decisions are respected and embraced. NOTE: should your camper elect not to stay, or if it's not convenient for them to stay, check out is at 1:00 pm on Wednesday.

Pathfinder Village (Rising 2nd - 3rd Grade, Ages 7 – 8)

Ready for more than three days? Pathfinders get to experience a full week of adventures at Sleepaway Camp. Pathfinders have endless energy so their schedule is packed full of fun and adventure. Pathfinders get to experience their activities as a village led by their activity counselors and Head Counselor. They participate in age-appropriate Cosby activities and have a few activities just for Buckaroos and Pathfinders. Our Pathfinder counselors are second to none, assuring your child has a safe week filled with wonderful memories and new friendships.

Blazer Village (Rising 4th and 5th Grade, Ages 9 - 10)

Ready to create your own thrilling week full of fun and adventure? Blazers begin to gain independence by designing their own activity schedule. Our caring staff help Blazers manage their schedule by encouraging them to try new activities and assuring they get to participate in their favorites too. Blazers experience tremendous growth of self-esteem as they choose five activity periods each day. They also experience the Cosby Spirit through cabin team-building, daily cabin devotions led by their counselors and living in peace with the other children while learning about the camp motto, “I Am Third.”

Blazers are old enough to register for Specialty Camps! Blazer's can participate in Mini Bikes, Waterski/Wakeboarding, Ceramics/Pottery, and Horseback Riding Specialty Camps. Specialty Camp campers spend half a day every day with a small group of campers focusing on individual attention for skill development and comprehension in their chosen Specialty Camp.

Ranger Village (Rising 6th and 7th Grade, Ages 11 – 12)

Rangers can participate in every activity Camp Cosby has to offer! Our Ranger counselors help your child acquire a greater sense of responsibility, build leadership skills and discover an increase in self-reliance. Many Ranger activities encourage campers to achieve a higher level than what they think possible. Climbing the Alpine Tower blindfolded or at a faster pace, traversing the High Ropes Course as a team and challenging themselves to stay up on Waterskis just a little bit longer are a few examples of the ways Rangers challenge themselves. They will rave about their successes all year long!

Rangers are old enough to register for Specialty Camps! Rangers can participate in Mini Bikes, Waterski/Wakeboarding, Ceramics/Pottery, and Horseback Riding Specialty Camps. Specialty Camp campers spend half a day every day with a small group of campers focusing on individual attention for skill development and comprehension in their chosen Specialty Camp.

Adventure Village (Rising 8th - 10th GRADE, Ages 13 – 15)

Adventure Village holds a special place in the hearts of our alumni and is often cited as the place where their best memories were made and some of their deepest friendships have lasted a lifetime. Adventure Village, affectionately referred to as “The Point,” offers teen campers the opportunity to have a camp community of their own, with bonding time and special non-stop activities geared toward teens. The teens eat breakfast and dinner at the beautiful Virginia Markle Pavilion and enjoy a campfire in the center of their village each evening. Each year teens grow in leadership and life skills while attending the ADV Program. A few activity periods are set aside each week for leadership development and teamwork activities.

Adventurers will also have the opportunity to sign up for some of their favorite activities from their Blazer and Ranger years and will have a beach and boat party at canoe beach each Friday.

Adventurers are old enough to register for Specialty Camps! Adventurers can participate in Mini Bikes, Waterski/Wakeboarding, Ceramics/Pottery, and Horseback Riding Specialty Camps. Specialty Camp campers spend half a day every day with a small group of campers focusing on individual attention for skill development and comprehension in their chosen Specialty Camp.

*Virginia Markle Adventure Village was dedicated on May 26, 2006 to the memory of Virginia Talbot Markle, 1993 – 2004. Camp Cosby was Virginia’s favorite place to be in the whole world! She and her brother made it a family tradition to attend the first session of camp each summer. Her last summer was 2004. Tragically, Virginia died in her sleep from an unknown aneurysm a week after returning from camp. Her mother found an un-mailed letter in her camp trunk, that still had not been fully unpacked. Virginia wrote, “I wish our family could move to Camp so I can come whenever I want. I can’t wait to see you, but I don’t want to leave if you know what I mean.” Camper, friend, and family to Camp Cosby…Virginia. Virginia will never have to leave again, and the Virginia Markle Adventure Village will be part of Camp Cosby forever. Virginia is missed, loved and remembered.

Cosby Speciality Camps (rISING 4TH - 10TH gRADE, Ages 9 - 15)

Campers age 9 to 15 can enhance their stay by registering for a Specialty Camp. Specialty Camps options are Mini Bikes, Wakeboard/Waterski, Wrangler and Ceramics/Pottery. Specialty Camp campers stay onsite with campers their age and participate in all regular camp activities with a special emphasis on their chosen specialty. Half of their activity periods for the week will be reserved for their chosen Specialty Camp. For an additional fee, this is a great way to focus on skill development in some of Cosby’s favorite programs. Learn More! Mini Bikes, Wrangler, Wakeboard/Waterski, Ceramics/Pottery Speciality.

Leader in Training “LIT” (rISING 10TH gRADE, Age 15 BY mAY 20TH)

This two-week program is specifically designed for campers who show potential to someday be a Camp Cosby counselor, a positive role model for children and a leader among peers. This introductory program teaches these young adults the first steps of how to be responsible for others. Learn More

Counselor in Training “CIT” (RISING 11TH GRADE, Age 16 BY mAY 20TH)

This two-week program is specifically designed for young adults who show potential and are interested in someday being a Camp Cosby counselor, a positive role model for children, a child care professional and a leader. This advanced program teaches these young adults all aspects of being responsible for others in a camp setting. Learn More

Weekend Stayover Camp

Campers staying multiple sessions don’t have to go home! Enjoy the weekend with us in smaller groups, doing activities only available during this time and reenergize for the next session. Stayover weekend is only for campers staying from one session to the next and is not offered as a stand-alone program.